Indeed, a recent review revealed that only one third of published papers have deposited raw data that are considered robust enough to allow valid multi-study comparisons

tained from 4 striata that were dissociated with trypsin and mechanically, seeded in a proliferating media and enriched in astrocytes by continuous shaking at 37uC during 48 h. Then, astrocytes were plated at 26104 cells/cm2 and maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 3.6 g/l HEPES, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 mg/ml streptomycin. Cultures consisted in at least 98% GFAP positive astrocytes and devoid of OX42-positive microglial cells. Striatal neurons were prepared from E17-18 embryos according to Ventimiglia et al. with minor modifications. Pregnant rats were euthanized and embryos aseptically retired. Striata were removed and received in Neurobasal medium containing 2% B27 and 1 mM glutamine. Tissue was cleaned, minced and dissociated to obtain isolated cells after passing through an 80 mm mesh. Around 300000 cells were seeded onto plates covered with 0.1 mg/ml poly-D lysine. Half of the media was replaced at day 3 after plating. At 5 days in vitro cells were treated with conditioned media for 24 h. In cultured isolated neurons, 97% of living cells were MAP2 positive and GFAP negative. Less than 1% of cells were positive for neuroglican 2. In co-culture experiments, freshly prepared neurons were seeded on top of confluent astrocyte monolayers previously treated with GA or FeTCPP/GA at 6 hours after withdrawal of the media containing GA and several washes. Evaluation of neuron survival was made 5 days later. between red and green emission was measured after a single excitation at 488 nm. Glutathione levels were estimated according to Chatterjee et al. by measuring the fluorescence of monochlorobimane-glutathione adducts. Briefly, cells were incubated with monochlorobimane and then i disrupted with Igepal. Emission was measured at 460 nm after a 395 nm excitation. Oxidative activity in control and GA-treated astrocytes was measured with the cell-permeant carboxy-H2DFFDA probe. According to manufacturers, living cells were washed and incubated 1 h with 5 mM carboxyH2DFFDA. Then, 1 mg/ml DAPI was added, cells rinsed and each fluorescence immediately imaged or measured after excitations of 405 and 18288792 488 nm, respectively. All data were expressed as percent of respective control values. Quantification of survival in cultured neurons The number of viable neurons was estimated after immunostaining against the neuronal marker microtubule associated protein-2 or bright field imaging. Briefly, cultures were fixed with 220uC methanol, hydrated for 30 min and blocked with 5% bovine serum albumin in PBS during 60 min at room temperature. Then, cultures were incubated with a monoclonal anti-MAP2 antibody and with a secondary antibody conjugated to tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate. In cocultures, neurons were recognized by morphology and MAP2 immunoreactivity, whereas astrocytes were identified by positive immunoreactivity against S100b or GFAP. All positive MAP2 cells were counted regardless of its appearance in 90% of whole area seeded. Neuronal survival in isolated cultures was also assessed by the release of Darapladib lactate dehydrogenase. Astrocyte treatments Experiments were done in confluence. Before each treatment, astrocytes were incubated with DMEM-2% FBS during 24 h and then treated with 5 mM GA for 24 h. Appropriate aliquots of a 500 mM acid stock solution, were prepared in 5 N NaOH immediately prior to use to assure neutral pH. In other experiments, cells were pretreated with 20 mM FeTCCP previous to GA addition, media was replaced, cells w